Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination Followed by Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination in Lung Transplant Candidates and Recipients

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccination as well as pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination are recommended for lung transplant candidates and recipients, but the combination of these vaccines has not been extensively studied in these specific populations.

Methods: Lung transplant candidates and recipients were vaccinated with a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, followed 8 weeks later by a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Pneumococcal antibody levels against 13 pneumococcal serotypes were measured and followed up after 1 year in the transplant recipients. These values were compared with a historical control group vaccinated with the polysaccharide vaccine alone.

Results: Twenty-five lung transplant candidates and 23 lung transplant recipients were included. For the majority of serotypes, there was no significant increase in antibody levels after additional vaccination with the polysaccharide vaccine in both patient groups. When compared with the historical control group, the antibody response in lung transplant recipients 1 year after vaccination did not seem to have improved by vaccination with both vaccines instead of the polysaccharide vaccine alone.

Conclusions: Serologic vaccination responses in lung transplant candidates and recipients were not improved by giving a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine after a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The benefit of this vaccination schedule in lung transplant recipients seems to differ from other immunocompromised populations. The optimal vaccination schedule for lung transplant candidates and recipients remains to be determined.